Writing Inside Out

Oftentimes writers approach writing from the outside in. This means that they look first to outside sources to gain the information and background they believe will allow them to write well about a particular subject. It's much like building a house in that the framework goes up first before the interior is finished. It makes sense, but it's not the way truly great writing emerges. Great writing comes directly from the heart. It works from the inside out. In other words, the writer first looks to the heart of the story, the essence of what needs to be said, lets that message marinate; and then only when the writer fully understands the message, he works from that inner core to build the framework on which the story will hang. The problem with building the framework first is that you might miss the message entirely. Working from the outside in leaves you in the position of building a structure for which you must then find a purpose. It's better to find the purpose first and then build the structure to support it. For every writing project you undertake, first ask yourself what the message is - not the subject, not the theme, but the message - and then let everything emanate from that central message. Let every word you write work to communicate that message and never stray from the message. If you can write from the inside out in this way, you can touch readers with larger truths that will have a lasting impact.